Bangalore School Rape: State Government Orders Action Against School In 3-Year-Old Girl's Assault Case

A demonstrator holds a placard during a protest against the verdict of a teenager, who was sentenced to three years in juvenile detention, in New Delhi Sept. 1, 2013. The Indian teenager was sentenced to three years in juvenile detention for the December gang rape of a trainee physiotherapist, the first verdict in a case that sparked debate over whether India was too soft on young offenders. Photo: Reuters/Mansi Thapliya

The rape of a 3-year-old in the city of Bangalore, in southern India, has forced the state government to consider punitive measures against a private school where the minor was sexually assaulted, local media reports said Friday. This is the third incident of an underage child being sexually assaulted at a school in the city in a span of four months.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly demanded prompt action against officials of the school where the child was assaulted allegedly by her teacher. The incident reportedly occurred Tuesday at Orchids International School in north Bangalore. The child was reportedly taken for a medical examination after her mother found injuries in the girl’s private parts. Local police on Thursday reportedly detained a suspect and filed a criminal complaint against the school.

"The investigation is going on. I have told the police and the education department to initiate action against the management of the institution,” Siddaramaiah told local media.

According to local reports, the school is not authorized to conduct classes at the kindergarten level in which the child was enrolled. The school has also been accused of falsely claiming to be affiliated with a federal education board. The violations came to light after a state official examined the school's documents during a visit after the assault.

"The school has permission to teach in Kannada (a regional language) up to fifth class. But it is teaching in English up to seventh class," Karnataka Public Instruction Commissioner Mohammed Mohsin reportedly said. "The school is not affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)," he added.

Protests have continued in the city, known for its technology sector, since the rape of a 6-year-old girl at Vibgyor High School, an upscale private school in the city's east, on July 3. The incident resulted in new guidelines being issued by local police to ensure the safety of children inside schools.

"We are checking the footage of the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed in the school and questioning its staff and faculty,” local police reportedly said.

Parents reportedly protested outside the school against the growing rate of sexual violence against children in the city's schools.

Meanwhile, fresh charges were filed on Friday against the chairman of Vibgyor High School for suppressing information regarding the July 3 assault, the Deccan Chronicle, a local newspaper reported. Two gym instructors, who were arrested for raping the minor, were also charged.